"After World War II, Russia and the United States divided North and South Korea along the 38th Parallel. When the Communist North Korean People's Army pushed south of this line in June 1950, combined American and British forces under UN commander Douglas MacArthur halted and reversed the advance. By October, the US-led intervention was on the brink of pushing the forces of North Korea out of the peninsula. As they approached the border with China, however, they were faced with an onslaught from Mao Zedong's vast People's Volunteer Army. General MacArthur confidently predicted that the UN forces would brush aside the Chinese--but they had underestimated their foe. By November the 1st Marine Division was among UN forces surrounded at the Chosin Reservoir. Heavily outnumbered in the worst Siberian blizzard in a century, their only option to survive was to break out in a determined, fighting retreat. Featuring first-person interviews with survivors, and illustrated with black and white photographs and detailed campaign maps, this is an enthralling account of the US Marine Corps' Finest Hour."--Jacket.

Includes index. Includes maps of: North Korean Invasion, June 25, 1950; Pusan Perimeter, August 5 to September 17, 1950; Inchon Landing; Drive to Seoul, September 15-27, 1950; Chinese Attack, November 25, 1950; Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, November 27-28, 1950

List of maps -- List of illustrations -- Prologue -- Introduction -- Chapter One : Brother's keeper -- Chapter Two : Background to war in the Land of the Morning Calm -- Chapter Three : The wages of hubris -- Chapter Four : The fatal decision -- Chapter Five : First contact -- Chapter Six : Where is the enemy? -- Chapter Seven : The Chinese attack -- Chapter Eight : Holding on -- Chapter Nine : Breakout -- Chapter Ten : "Retreat, hell, we're just attacking in a new direction!" -- Chapter Eleven : Evacuation -- Chapter Twelve : Aftermath.